MEMPHIS, TN--(Marketwired - August 14, 2016) - ServiceMaster Restore, one of the largest disaster restoration companies in the United States, has mobilized additional crews from across the nation to Louisiana to help with the widespread flooding cleanup efforts, and its experts are offering important advice for residents who are unsure what to do in the face of significant water damage to their homes or businesses.

"Safety is a huge concern when entering a flooded property," said Peter Duncanson, director of system development, ServiceMaster Restore, a ServiceMaster Global Holdings Inc. (NYSE: SERV) company. "Given the amount of water the area has received, I suggest reaching out to the local disaster restoration experts for help in the cleanup. It is critical for home and business owners to know exactly what to do -- and what not to do -- when dealing with water damage."

ServiceMaster Restore experts outline what to do in the event your home or business sustain water damage:

If the outside temperature is above 80 degrees, use dehumidifiers if available.

Use fans to circulate the air and assist drying.

Remove as much water as possible by mopping and blotting.

Wipe furniture dry.

Lift draperies off carpet, loop through a coat hanger, and place the hanger on the drapery rod.

Prop up wet furniture cushions for even drying and place small wood blocks or aluminum foil under furniture legs.

Remove wet area rugs or other floor coverings and open furniture drawers, closet doors and luggage to enhance drying.

Move photographs, paintings and art objects to a safe, dry location.

Remove wet fabrics and dry them as soon as possible. Hang furs and leather goods to dry separately at room temperature.

Remove damp books from shelves and spread out to dry.

"Once a property is flooded, timing is of the essence to get the water extracted, items dried and prevent mold growth," explains Duncanson." Our disaster restoration experts can guide you through the process with your insurance company, ensure your home is properly taken care of and restore your home back to its normal state."

ServiceMaster Restore is trained, equipped and ready to restore homes and businesses before, during and after any water-related issues. With a number of regionally based large-loss command and control centers and 1,800 franchises worldwide, ServiceMaster Restore can mobilize across the country to handle any size job.

For more expert tips and information about water remediation, visit ServiceMasterRestore.com or like us on Facebook. For immediate assistance and clean up, call a live ServiceMaster Restore operator 24/7 at 1-800-RESPOND.

About ServiceMaster Restore

With approximately 1,800 franchised and licensed locations around the world, ServiceMaster Restore and ServiceMaster Recovery Management (SRM) serve customers through a global network of franchises available 24/7/365 to provide residential and commercial restoration services resulting from damage caused by water, fire or smoke. SRM is the large scale commercial catastrophic disaster restoration unit of ServiceMaster Restore. ServiceMaster Restore and SRM have operations and consulting experience on countless disasters, including clean-up after Hurricane Katrina and the Pentagon after September 11, 2001. ServiceMaster Restore is a business unit of the Memphis-based ServiceMaster Global Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SERV), a leading provider of essential residential and commercial services. More information can be found at www.servicemasterrestore.com and www.srmcat.com.